Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-05-14
COMMON SENSE IND REFORM.

tofuuoN NENSE ~ - hfFVHn.
People usually suppose that one with
a good cause and an honest purpose ear
nestly pushed, must have in his possession
the elements OF certain success. and must,
therefore. succeed in his undertakings. He
| has. il is true. elements OF success, but not
all the elements. and not The element.
Much honest reform effort has failed of ac-
complishing good results because these ele-
ments we have named were solely relied
upon. A good brain in a level head is an
| indispensable element or factor to success
full reform work and the supreme reason
| why ~ much reform work goes Ia wreck is
because il is not pudently and wisely
welded.
Ii is not enough that one should know
that his cause is Just and that his purpose
is true and honest. tie must be- able 10
make Others know 1t. Not only this, but
he must be- able to persuade them To adopt it.
In a phrase We may say that a vitality
! essential element in reform work is practi-
cal common sense-which, by the way. is
requisite in the successful prosecution of
any or all classes of business or other enter
prises. The impulsive. hot-headed and
self sufficient reformer having Matched out
his plans for the renovation of society
plans in the main benevolent and beneti-
cent plans based on ideas of genuine re-
form-begnS AT once to thunder them forth
al the world and goes to bed al night eN-
peciing the world TO adopt them next morn
ing But the world scarcely ever does it.
The world has good deal on its hands
for the world has hands-twO billions of
them. The world has good deal on its
IA think of. Ii is pretty good
sized world and il has great many people
in IL. And the world is very conservative.
Ii is rather suspicious of new things. And
whenever new notion catches its eyes and
attention-which is mighty seldom-it is
held of and held up" and Scrutinized very
closely and thoroughly. The best people
in the world-those who are the most hu-
mane and the most anxious To do good
have great many questions 10 ask of any
new conner, who brings with him scheme
for the reconstruction of society and the
regeneration of mankind. First, il is asked
if the scheme is aimed in the right direc-
tiOn-at a real evil or wrong: then, II il is
honestly entertained by an honest man;
then. if the man who fathers it and wishes
10 further its plans is man of the right
spirit. And then. it Is asked if il is practi
cal and rests upon common-Sense basis.
Every scheme and plan OF reform must
rest upon its actual merits-and of these
merits one of the most essential is practi-
cablity The methods must be reasonable
and practicable. Bad methodS-that is to say
unreasonable methods-will wreck or
ruin the most worthy and wholesome
of reforms-political. social or religious.
The man who goes laundering about the
world. shouting and clustering about his
method of doing the right thing lin the
wrong way. usually and makes a speciality
Of sticking his long nose and his longer
tongue into hornets nests" and stirring up
strife and contention among men-and
may have a good cause and true purpose
and may aim his nose and his mouth at
great evils and wrongs-but he is al
ways hluuierer and inevitably
works damage to his own cause. That is
because he goes at the right thing in the
wrong way-becauSe he has all the ele-
ments, or the principal elements, of success,
except that which is practically the most
essential. namely, the element of common
sense.
The world-thai portion of il which reads
and thnks-is progressive and independent.
Ii selects its reading and thinks for itself.
Right things must come TO it in the right
way to command its serious attention: and
they must come from the right persons, who
must show right spirit. The very best
mental and social element-that which is
pure. and honest. and phlanthropic. and
loving, and earnest, knocks out the pious
blusterer and bulldozer in the first round.
Usually this element is abundantly able.
mentally and morally, To devise its own
schemes. and il holds mere theorists al
safe distance Really. the market is over
stocked with theories.
Therefore. with honesty and q good
cause. We must have good sense and wise.
practical plans. wisely welded.